Investigation into reasons for marital breakdown in MV remains fruitless
In the past month, health authorities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have been working diligently to identify the source of an outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a strain of gut bacterium that can cause severe illness in humans.
The National Reference Center at the Robert Koch Institute has been instrumental in the search, successfully identifying the outbreak pathogen strain. EHEC produces Shiga toxins, potent cell poisons that lead to severe diarrhea in humans and, in severe cases, can cause blood clotting disorders and kidney function disorders.
The first severe cases of diarrhea due to EHEC were reported in Vorpommern at the beginning of August. Since then, the authorities have registered 89 cases of EHEC, with 35 confirmed and 54 still under investigation. Among these cases, about one in five individuals has been diagnosed with the severe complications associated with EHEC.
Sadly, this outbreak has led to hospitalizations, with some patients requiring intensive care. Nationwide, five HUS-related deaths were reported in 2023, and three in 2024.
The bacterial strain responsible for the outbreak in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is particularly aggressive and rare in Europe. Despite the efforts of health authorities, the search for the reasons behind the increased occurrence of EHEC infections in the region has yielded no tangible results.
Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) has compared the search for the infection source to a Sisyphean task, citing the 2011 EHEC outbreak that took over eight weeks to solve. She has stated that neither the source of the outbreak nor the infection source has been identified.
EHEC infections can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with animals or consumption of contaminated food. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is currently the epicenter of the outbreak, with 107 infections nationwide attributed to it.
This year, over 3,700 cases of EHEC have been recorded nationwide, a significant increase from the approximately 3,440 cases recorded in 2023 and around 4,570 in 2024. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, more than 130 cases were recorded in 2024, compared to 80 in the previous year.
The incubation period for EHEC can be up to ten days, making the identification and containment of the outbreak a challenging task. The health authorities have registered a double-digit increase in new EHEC infections on two consecutive days, adding to the urgency of the situation.
As the investigation continues, the public is advised to practice good hygiene, especially when handling food and animals, to reduce the risk of EHEC infection. The authorities will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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